News
Spoonbill and Fieldfare....
More calm weather making for great viewing around the reserve. The forecast looks good into the weekend. A Spoonbill flew over the Mere around 4.30pm before heading off towards Woodend Marsh, an unusual autumn visitor but one that is increasing in number
17 October 2018
Sightings for Wednesday 17th October
Damp start to the day but started to dry out and brighten up by mid afternoon. Sightings today: Mute swan Whooper swan Greylag goose Canada goose Mallard Shoveler Teal Wigeon Great egret Little egret Moorhen Kingfisher Black-tailed godwit Golden pl
17 October 2018
Latest Sightings - Wednesday 17th October
Whooper Swan numbers are slightly down this morning, but that is likely due to disturbance on the Whooper Pond by an Otter. Duck numbers on the reserve are reaching a peak, with the Flood Ground and Folly Pond particularly good. Flocks of Redwing have be
17 October 2018
Wildlife Sightings - 17/10/18
Tide level: High Wader Lake Snipe 2 Redshank 17 Black-Headed Gull 100 Lapwing
17 October 2018
Wednesday's sightings
A great Autumn morning with calm, dry weather and a bit of sun poking through the haze. The digger work will continue on the Top New Piece from the Zeiss Hide, although birds are still around once they get used to the machinery. South Lake Hides Birds o
17 October 2018
Wildlife sightings for 17th October 2018
123 Teal - main lake, wader scrape, grazing marsh, reservoir lagoon 39 Greylag Goose - main lake, grazing marsh 5 Snipe - grazing marsh, main lake 2 Stonechat - wader scrape 3 Meadow Pipit - grazing marsh 3 Mistle Thrush - flew over heading NE 6 Siskin
17 October 2018
Recent sightings 13th-16th October
Goldfinch - Photo taken by Russ Myners British Steel hide Good numbers of waders have been seen during high tide, 890 black-tailed godwit, 339 knot, 25 greenshank, 7 Dunlin, redshank as well as 1 spotted redshank. Als
16 October 2018
Today's sightings
Mute swan Whooper swan (x200) Greylag Canada goose Shoveler Mallard Pintail (x4) Gadwall Wigeon Teal Moorhen Cranes (x10) Grey Heron Bittern (Lyle hide) Little egret Black-tailed godwit (x9) Ruff (15+) Redshank Snipe (x6) Golden plover Lapwing Black-heade
16 October 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 16th October
More Whooper Swans are starting to drop in with a couple more named swans in. Duck numbers creep up steadily with good flocks of mixed Wigeon and Teal out on Folly Pond and Flood Ground. The flooded fields are drawing in the waders with Lapwing, Curle
16 October 2018
Wildlife sightings for 16th October 2018
2 Jack Snipe - grazing marsh, main lake 7 Snipe - grazing marsh 2 Redwing - wader scrape bank 1 Stonechat - grazing marsh/reedbed 3 Meadow Pipit - grazing marsh 2 Skylark - flew over heading South 5 Chiffchaff - South route, sheltered lagoon, wildside 1 B
16 October 2018
A few more finches
Holden Tower A pair of Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, tit flock and 4 Magpies in the bushes, three Chaffinch flew out. On the Dumbles a Peregrine and 2 Buzzard were seen with a small flock of both Barnacle and Greylag Geese. Knott Hide Water Rail and Chiffchaff.
16 October 2018
Spoonbill
Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece A Spoonbill was roosting on the islands in the morning but moved off elsewhere. The Little Stint was again on the islands with c100 Dunlin coming in over the tide. Three Cranes, 40 Golden Plover and small numbers of Ruff were seen
15 October 2018
14430
More Pink-footed Geese roosting on the reserve with this morning's count of 14430 being the highest of the autumn so far. A number of people have asked whether the geese are late this year? On average the counts tend to peak in mid October so this year it
15 October 2018
Today's Highlights
Marsh harriers (1 with green wing tags) Buzzard Sparrowhawk Kestrel Whooper swans + cygnets Mute swans Canada goose Greylag goose Mallard Gadwall Teal Wigeon Shoveler Pintail Moorhen Coot Black-tailed godwit Redshank Lapwing Grey heron Snipe Cormorant Gre
15 October 2018
Recent Sightings €- 15th October 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. The number of Brent geese out on the estuary is breath-taking at present. Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Brent Goose c,350
15 October 2018